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3D052 Career Guide

Air Force

3D052: Cyber Systems Administrator

Career transition guide for Air Force Cyber Systems Administrator (3D052)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 3D052 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Systems Administrator

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Network Engineer

$90K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Advanced networking concepts

Cybersecurity Analyst

$105K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools

Cloud Engineer

$120K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions ArchitectMicrosoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

IT Project Manager

$100K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP)Agile methodologiesScrum Master certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 3D052 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You routinely build and maintain complex server systems, understanding the interplay of hardware, software, and network components to ensure seamless operation.

This ability to visualize and understand complex interconnected systems translates directly to designing and optimizing business processes and workflows.

Adversarial Thinking

You are trained to anticipate and counter threats to network security, proactively seeking vulnerabilities and developing tactics to defend against attacks.

Your experience in anticipating and neutralizing threats allows you to excel at risk management and strategic planning, identifying potential challenges and developing mitigation strategies.

Resource Optimization

You perform strategic and budget planning for networks, managing system resources, and load balancing to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations.

This skill translates to effectively managing budgets, allocating resources, and improving operational efficiency in any organization.

Procedural Compliance

You implement and enforce national, DoD, and Air Force security policies and directives, ensuring all systems adhere to strict regulatory requirements.

Your meticulous approach to following and enforcing procedures is highly valuable in roles requiring strict adherence to regulatory standards and legal compliance.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You develop, test, and implement local restoral and contingency operations plans, ensuring systems can recover quickly from outages and interruptions.

Your ability to maintain functionality under pressure makes you excellent in crisis management, disaster recovery, and ensuring business continuity.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Process Analyst

SOC 13-1111

You've been modeling complex systems to ensure optimal network performance, a skill that directly translates to analyzing and improving business workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.

Cybersecurity Consultant

SOC 15-1212

You've been performing proactive security functions to deter, detect, isolate, and contain intrusions; as a consultant, you'll advise businesses on hardening their defenses and responding to incidents.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You've been implementing and enforcing strict security policies. Now, you can ensure businesses adhere to regulatory requirements, mitigating risks and maintaining legal compliance.

IT Project Manager

SOC 15-1299.09

You've been coordinating and implementing system service level agreements. Your experience with strategic planning and resource management makes you a perfect fit to oversee IT projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cyber Systems Administrator Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, MS

600 training hours15 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in Information Technology, Networking, or Cybersecurity

Topics Covered

  • Server Operating Systems Administration (Windows Server, Linux)
  • Active Directory and Group Policy Management
  • Networking Fundamentals and Security
  • Scripting and Automation (PowerShell, Python)
  • Database Administration (SQL Server, MySQL)
  • Virtualization Technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)
  • Cybersecurity Fundamentals and Incident Response
  • Storage Area Networks (SAN) Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Focus on cryptography, access control, and security assessments.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Deeper dive into networking protocols, troubleshooting, and network security.

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate50% covered

Requires learning Azure-specific tools, services, and cloud administration concepts.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – AssociateProject Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Group Policy Objects (GPO)Active Directory Group Policy
System Management Server (SMS)Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM)
Information Assurance Vulnerability Assessments (IAVA)Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) and vulnerability scanning tools like Nessus or Qualys
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)Commercial Certificate Authorities (e.g., DigiCert, Let's Encrypt)
Combat Information Transport System (CITS)Network infrastructure monitoring platforms (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG)
C4 Notice to Airman (C4 NOTAM)IT Service Management (ITSM) incident communication platforms (e.g., ServiceNow)
Time Compliance Network Orders (TCNO)Patch Management Software (e.g., Microsoft Intune, Ivanti Patch Management)

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